Blog Africa - South Africa

Travel by Gautrain

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:00:00 +0200

Have you heard that you can now take the Gautrain to the airport? This high-speed train links Johannesburg’s O R Tambo International Airport with Sandton CBD in just 12 minutes.

Gautrain buses connect a number of locations to the Sandton Gautrain Station. Whilst each station does have ample parking, the buses allow you to forget about needing a car for a while. Quite refreshing I must say! The bus fare is a standard R20.00, but note that you must pay with a Gautrain Gold Card. These can be bought & credited at any Gautrain train station.

I caught the Gautrain bus from Rosebank, just around the corner from The Grace Hotel. The Gautrain bus stops have the distinctive high-speed train logo and the buses are the only gold buses in the city, so it’s extremely easy to see. In less than 20 minutes I’m at the impressive Sandton Station. It’s a trip in itself just to marvel at the architecture. The station and track here are completely underground and we were at Marlboro Station, before seeing daylight again. By the time I’d settled into my comfortable seat we were already at the airport. That beats sitting in the traffic on the highway anyday!

Gautrain trains and buses run from 05:30 – 20:30 every week day, except public holidays and every 12 minutes during the peak periods of 05:30 – 08:30 and 16:00 – 19:00 and every 20 minutes at all other times. On the weekend and public holidays the Gautrain runs every 30 minutes.

The airport service fare is a flat rate of R100 for a single journey. At each station there is a drop-off zone with 15 minutes free parking and car parks cost R29.00 for the first 24-hours, then R29.50 for the second 24-hours at all stations. The secure parking at Gautrain stations also allows you to drive to your nearest station and then catch a train to Sandton CBD. It’s a great commuter service and a quick way to pop into Sandton for some shopping. Whilst staying at The Lakes Hotel in Benoni, I drove to the Rhodesfield Station and bought a combined train-bus ticket for R27.00, which covered my train to Sandton and the Gautrain bus to Rosebank to meet friends for lunch at The Grace Hotel. It was so quick, simple and cheap!

From June 2011 an additional stretch of track will be operational connecting Pretoria with Sandton and Johannesburg Park Station. This will also add stations at Rosebank, Centurion and Midrand.

Benoni Hotels

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:02:00 +0200

On this visit to Johannesburg I decided to stay somewhere a little different to the traditional Sandton or Rosebank. The town of Benoni in the East Rand is just 10km from OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg International Airport). Steeped in the history of mining and horse racing, this small city has much to tell of Gauteng’s legacy. Originally known as “Little Cornwall”, but declared the township of Benoni in 1906 its series of dams & reservoirs, originally built for mine use, remain today. Populated with fish, these reservoirs are large enough for boating and picnic sites nestle under thousands of trees, along the banks.

This is more than a day trip; this is somewhere to spend time. Looking into the Benoni hotels on offer, I chose to stay at The Lakes Hotel, a local treasure for many people, due to its beautiful setting on the banks of the Benoni natural lakes. It’s also the ideal location to watch the local and international skiing competitions hosted by the water Ski-World next door.

This particular of Benoni hotels, offers all the necessities for a tourist, such as I, who loves to enjoy all her comforts. The African Sun team have ensured a great night’s sleep, with crisp white duvets and soft pillows, making breakfast in bed a must! However, with so much to explore a quick run around the on-site tennis court and a dip in the swimming pool, soon awakened the senses. For those who prefer to dress for breakfast the traditional buffet is sure to satisfy!

Exploring some local history, I visited the museum, which details the 1922 Rand Revolt that broke out throughout the mines on the Witwatersrand, Benoni being one of the headquarters for the striking miners. Benoni’s horse-racing legacy dates back to 1907 with the opening of the Race Track, breathtaking by its sheer size. The first race horses were imported from England to here and it is now believed that Benoni has more horse stables per square kilometre than any other place in the Southern Hemisphere.

Within striking distance of this Benoni hotel is also the Lakeside Shopping Mall, in the shape of a Mississippi Steamboat; the Korsman Bird Sanctuary, home to waterfowl and antelope and the Rynfield Children's Park, a 17.5 hectare playground, inhabited by hundreds of rabbits, sheep and birds. I opted to return to The Lakes, collapse in the Sundowner Bar and order a pre-dinner cocktail.